Shankheshwar Jain Temple, Jain temple in Shankheshwar, Gujarat, India

Shankheshwar Jain Temple stands in the centre of Shankheshwar town, Patan district, on the bank of the Rupen river. Its mulnayak is a white Parshvanatha idol about 182 cm high, seated in the Padmasana posture. The present temple was built in 1811; besides the original sanctuary it has an open square, a decorated square, a vast square and two assembly halls.

The complex was established in the 12th century and underwent several expansions and renovations over the following centuries. During the Mughal period it suffered damage but was rebuilt by local communities and continues to serve as a pilgrimage site today.

The name Shankheshwar means 'lord of the conch' and refers to the shape of a shell motif associated with Lord Parshwanath. Devotees from different regions of India come here to offer prayers and perform ritual ablutions in the early morning hours.

The grounds open before sunrise and close late in the evening, with the quietest hours falling in the early morning. Visitors should remove their shoes before entering and wear plain clothing that covers shoulders and knees.

The mulnayak is a white-coloured idol of Parshvanatha in the Padmasana posture, nearly 182 centimetres (72 in) high. In the Shvetambara tradition it is counted among the 108 prominent idols of Parshvanath, and dozens of replica temples and icons of Shankheshwar Parshvanatha exist elsewhere. The idol of Bhidbhanjan Parshvanath stands in a small temple to its right, Ajitnatha to its left.